Aoife Wafer is on course to make her first appearance of the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup when Ireland tackle quarter-final opponents France in Exeter on Sunday.
The number eight, last season’s Six Nations player of the tournament, missed all three pool stage appointments with Japan, Spain and New Zealand.
But her battle back to full fitness from a knee injury is now ready for completion with an appearance at Sandy Park.
“Aoife is back in training with the squad,” Ireland kicking coach Gareth Steenson said, at the squad’s city centre base.
“She is looking really good. It has been a long road for her, and she has got some good training sessions under her belt.
“All being well, she is available for selection. She has come through the sessions, and we are very pleased with where she is at.”
Wafer’s anticipated return will come as a huge boost for Ireland as they aim to reach a first World Cup semi-final since 2014.
They will have their work cut out against opponents they last beat during the Six Nations eight years ago, but there is also encouraging fitness news surrounding full-back Stacey Flood.
Aoife Wafer, left, before the New Zealand game seen wearing knee support. Pic: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
Flood went off seven minutes before half-time after suffering an ankle problem during the 40-0 defeat against New Zealand in Northampton on Sunday.
But Steenson added: “Stacey is being managed. she is in good fettle and hopefully will be on the field.
“It was a real tough physical game against New Zealand. The way it is at the minute, Stacey will be looking to be training and be available for selection.
“We have got a number of players in the back-three. We are very fortunate. But we are pretty confident and hopeful that Stacey can come through.
“We want everyone fighting fit, and Stacey we are expecting to be involved in that.”
France will go into the last-eight encounter as favourites, with host nation England potentially awaiting them in the last-four.
But the Irish players have picked themselves up following a heavy loss to world champions New Zealand, and are ready to go again.
“At the end of the day, we are disappointed with how it played out at the weekend,” Steenson said.
“But we have put it to bed pretty quickly. We have to because it is knockout rugby this week.
“They are a very good outfit, and it was a good physical test. There were definitely opportunities out there, and we created opportunities that we didn’t take.
“The French traditionally have big forward packs, and there is that physical battle. There are loads of threats right across the board, but we definitely feel we have got stuff that can combat that.”